Chase Elliott had a strong performance at Bristol, finishing in eighth place. The Food City 500 on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway was a chaotic race due to tire wear. The combination of the rubber compound from Goodyear and the resin on the track created a dangerous situation. Instead of sticking to the track, the rubber turned into marbles, giving the track the appearance of being infested with seaweed.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott, commented on this unusual situation. He acknowledged that it was an exciting experience but also recognized that NASCAR needs to find a better balance. While it was enjoyable, the extreme tire wear should not happen in every race.
Elliott expressed his thoughts to NBC’s Dustin Long, saying, “It was a lot of fun. I think there’s probably a little better balance somewhere there, but I had a good time.” He also shared his perspective on Twitter, stating that the race was enjoyable.
Overall, it seems that most drivers agree that NASCAR is heading in the right direction to address the issue of short-track racing. However, it is important to note that the Bristol combination should only serve as inspiration. It would not be sustainable for NASCAR and the teams to use the same approach repeatedly.
Another NASCAR Cup champion, who won the title in 2021, did not have a favorable opinion of the race. Despite securing a top-5 finish, he was not prepared for the significant tire fall-off. He expressed his desire to avoid such races in the future.
Several other drivers, including the reigning champion, shared similar sentiments about the race. While they found it enjoyable, they believe that NASCAR needs to find a balance to prevent extreme tire wear. Chase Elliott’s comments highlight the importance of addressing this issue.
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